Recent college football news gives some clarity on potential changes on Tennessee Vols' coaching staff
The Tennessee Vols have had to replace a member of Josh Heupel's on-field staff in each of the last two offseasons. After the 2021 season, Heupel promoted Kelsey Pope to take over as Tennessee's wide receivers coach after Kodi Burns left to take the same job with the New Orleans Saints. Last offseason, Heupel promoted […]
The Tennessee Vols have had to replace a member of Josh Heupel's on-field staff in each of the last two offseasons.
After the 2021 season, Heupel promoted Kelsey Pope to take over as Tennessee's wide receivers coach after Kodi Burns left to take the same job with the New Orleans Saints.
Last offseason, Heupel promoted Alec Abeln to tight ends coach when offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Alex Golesh left to become the head coach at USF (quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle was promoted to offensive coordinator).
This offseason, it's starting to look like Heupel won't have to replace anyone on his on-field staff.
Defensive coordinator Tim Banks and running backs coach Jerry Mack were each candidates to become the new head coach at MTSU. But multiple reports indicated on Tuesday that MTSU is hiring former Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason to take over as the program's head coach.
Mack could still be a candidate for the head coaching job at James Madison, but it doesn't seem like he's at the top of the list.
The only other rumored potential staff opening for the Vols is at cornerbacks coach. There have been some rumblings that Willie Martinez could retire, but for now, those are just "rumblings". Martinez's contract is up later this winter. So if there's any movement there, it won't happen until later in the offseason. It's still entirely possible that he could return for a fourth season on Heupel's coaching staff.
For now, it doesn't appear that any changes on Tennessee's staff are inevitable. Staff continuity is important to Josh Heupel so this is something that could be considered an offseason "win" for the Vols.
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